Between jumping out ahead early and responding with 13 unanswered runs after the St. Louis Cardinals took a lead, there was plenty of reason for the Los Angeles Dodgers to be optimistic. They leapfrogged the Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card spot and momentarily are tied with the Colorado Rockies in the NL West.
However, between Yasiel Puig clubbing three home runs, a career first for him, there was a bit of an injury scare with Justin Turner. He was plunked by John Gant on the left wrist/forearm area when squaring around to bunt in the third inning.
Turner immediately dropped his bat in pain and was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer. Turner remained in the game and went on to reach in all five plate appearances by going 3-for-3 with two walks before being replaced in the seventh inning.
Turner underwent X-rays on his left wrist, which came back negative, according to Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
The X-Ray on Justin Turner’s wrist came back negative. The ball connected with a pad that protects the once-fractured area.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) September 15, 2018
While Turner avoided serious injury, being struck in the previously fractured area is worth monitoring moving forward. Turner has already dealt with residual soreness since returning from the disabled list.
His presence in the Dodgers lineup has been instrumental to the team’s success, particularly since he missed time because of a groin strain. Turner was named the NL Player of the Month for August and has carried that production into September.
